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Renzulli reveals details about ancillary events

by
Adam Kimelman
/ NHL.com

PHILADELPHIA -- If NHL Senior Director of Facilities Operations Dan Craig is in charge of the actual game that will be played Jan. 2 here at Citizens Bank Park, NHL Senior Vice President of Events Don Renzulli helms all the ancillary events that will make the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic one of the most memorable events of the 2011-12 season.

At a press briefing today, Renzulli gave a few details of what the non-rink décor of the stadium will entail.

Most obvious are the 1,500 temporary seats installed in center field, which will be completed and approved by the end of the week. Left field near the foul pole will feature two goalie sticks framing a hockey puck about 35 feet in diameter, while the right-field corner will house the host positions for NBC and CBC.

The broadcast positions for NBC and CBC will be erected in what usually is short center field.

The auxiliary rink will be built between the pitcher's mound and home plate, and another small stage will be built in front of home plate for the anthem singers.

Work also is going on outside the stadium on Citizens Bank Way, where a spectator plaza will be constructed.

"That's where we open that up to the fans and our sponsors," Renzulli said. "There will be merchandise, a band, video board, food and beverage. A place to go enjoy yourself prior to the game. Once that opens for Alumni Day on the 31st, that'll stay open right through to when we drop the puck at 1:28 p.m. on Jan. 2.

"We've got bands on the 31st and 1st. There will be video board out there. We'll show highlights, NHL Network out there live. The network will be live out there broadcasting. All of our sponsors -- I think we have 10 or 11 that will activate out there -- they'll all have tie-ins with hockey. It's not just showing products, it's really tie-ins with the game. We'll have roaming entertainers, something similar to what we've had the past four years."

Renzulli also talked about the weather reports, which he said were very hopeful leading into the game.

"One good thing is the last hour the weather has changed," he said. "This is more like Winter Classic weather instead of the 60-degree weather we've had in the past. The weather report that I'm seeing is snow toward the end of the week, at least light snow, right through to Jan. 2. Hopefully Mother Nature works in our favor, the sun stays out of our way, little clouds, little snow and we're looking forward to a great day on Jan. 2.

"This will start to take shape pretty quickly. Hope to watch Dan make ice come Thursday."

Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK